HUMBOLDT — City council members kept Humboldt’s mill levy the same as for 2022 in approving their 2023 budget on Monday evening. That 93.56 levy will raise an additional $103,000 for the city due to the increased value in the city’s properties. The city generates about $1 million for its general fund through property taxes.
In approving the mill levy, council members raised the city’s Revenue Neutral Rate — the amount raised the previous year from property taxes.
To match the same amount of tax revenue as accrued for the 2022 budget, city leaders would have lowered the current mill levy to 84.363.
Overall, taxes are expected to bring in an additional $150,000, said Cole Herder, city administrator, including those from motor vehicles, sales, and property.
A single mill for Humboldt raises about $11,000. If you own a home appraised at $100,000, city property taxes would be $1,075.
City council members also approved a school resource officer for USD 258 schools. The officer will report directly to Shannon Moore, Humboldt police chief, and be outfitted by the police department.
The position will pay an estimated $58,000 of which the school district will pay $30,500.
Moore lauded the decision.
“We spend a lot of time at the school dealing with bullying, especially through Snapchat and Facebook,” she said of the social media messaging sites. “This will help prevent pulling city forces to respond to incidents at the school.”
Moore also said the resource officer will help instill a good rapport between students and law enforcement officers.
Herder reported plans for Allen County crews to chip and seal several streets in town has been put on hold due to a failure of equipment. Herder reached out to Neosho County and was told Humboldt would be next in line after its cities’ streets were repaired.
Herder said the window was closing on such repairs.
“Once it gets below 50 degrees, the mixture won’t cure properly,” he said.
Council approved a request by Jeanie Newman of JAE & Co., to have a food truck across from her store at 818 Bridge St., the evening of Sept. 28 and other times throughout the year for her “Ladies Night” events.
A request from Amber Bonczkowski was also granted for the Oct. 22 John’s Journey Car Show to close certain streets on the square and have a food truck.
